Little Poems
vermillion blooms –
how seductive
the Azaleas
every night
the stars
wait for me
my little girl
helping me
to smell the flowers
in the gloom
rain on the mountain
dusk comes early
her shadow still
little resin faerie
staring towards the stars
leaves and finches
swirling in
the autumn wind
the fly
stops to clap
as I jump after him
the rain gone –
fallen leaves
whisper no more
thick upon the grass
swaying clover
springtime bees
a lucky rubber band
on his wrist
or school is off
fluttering in my hand
moment of freedom
a moth
in a tree
unconcerned with my worries
a blackbird sings
autumn winds
the leaves
show a lighter side
at night
neon lights
dance upon the lake
at night
waves hiss
upon the shore
red shoot yearns for warmth
imbedding its tip
in the blue sky
breathless summer cloud
stops to rest
against a Kauri
shadows in the fog
never really there –
families at an inquest
tui’s call
black and green sheen
waiting for enlightenment
a hazy view
mountains on the horizon –
golden afternoons
spring afternoon
above the lake –
a rosewater sky
ready for the ball
swaying in satin –
rhododendrons
rainbow fish
dart and stop
amongst the weeds
a frog
under a tree stump
hiding
skipping stones
across the lake –
almost
facing the sun
warm skin
golden eyelids
the first blowfly
of spring –
in a hurry
the moon
following me
home again
behind Mt Tauhara
afraid to pass
a line of clouds
now with lambs
the sheep
eye me suspiciously
just me
and a dry leaf
running down the road
too early for spring
you blush so
young cherry tree
leaping kitten
settles
a sudden dragonfly
the cricket
under the floorboards
tells me to shut up
for a moment
the Tui’s call
seems different
a fantail
asks only
my company
autumn morning
the clouds caught
lying down
in the dry grass
kittens
chase butterflies
last night
Saturn’s rings
tonight – nothing!
barking dog
the meter man
chased from another home
a pebble falls
friendless in the puddle –
and disappears
hidden shrine
only glimpsed
from the path
pebble worn
by smooth waves
caress
in the distance
a zephyrs kiss
on the chimes
eternal vigil
buttercups
searching the heavens
dragonfly above
the rock
green water below
planted in a row
the trees
struggle with the concept
Driving
between the trees
the sun
the sun
the sun
by the library
the autumn leaves
are well red
towards distant clouds
cutting each other off
sparrows
sunset
on the lake
ducks preen
drifting on the tide
ducks stand
to flap their wings
struggling to rise
heron’s wings
touch the waves
after the rain
long grasses
bowing in gratitude
the rain gone
yet under the tree
raindrops fall
shaking
this way and that
gum trees sparkle
blue sky
like autumn
fading at the edges
on a wire fence
birds gather –
beads on a necklace
the tree holds
a thousand copper coins
this autumn day
on a tightrope
spun by the wind –
a hawk
it is so
hot here
on Chunuk Bair
days end
and I see flowers
where I did not before
summer morning
the sun has fallen
into the lake
wet Heron
on a rock
we both look for fish
heat waves
on the road
I must walk
somewhere
in the tree
a cicada
azure sky –
the first cicada
is lonely
dyed with the blood
of a thousand warriors
a poppy
cricket –
I did not see you
sitting there
a butterfly
swirls away
in the wind
in the sunlight
a million pearls
upon the lake
a thousand cicadas
amidst the gums
yet I cannot hear a single one
butterfly
you have no time
to sit with me
my feet
pressed against
the sky
walking with me
this hot day
a fly
in the reeds
a cricket sings
the moon a lullaby
deep in the forest
in ones and twos
Matai wait
on the trampoline
my sons
touch the sky
its time come
the bee
seeks peace
weary with autumn
crimson and gold
leaves fall
camellia bud
young and pink
all alone
down the path
beside the pool
I see me sit
through the orchard
the wind
taunts the trees
gum trees
stop laughing
I can wait no more
pheasant in the bush
your cough
is worse than mine
nature’s thermometer
children
and the garden hose
bees and tui
squabble
amongst the cherry blossom
sunlight
on the scales
of a silver lake
cicadas gone
a sweeter sound
the cricket’s song
only when I sit
comfortably
do the crickets talk to me
wisteria floral waterfall
summer morning
agapanthus and I
face the sun
a fly
on my foot
makes me dance
old cat
moves a little
to rest again
going by
a fly
with no muffler
down the hill
all summer
waterslide memories
trailing stardust
across the evening
the most wondrous comet
beetle
warms itself
in the summer sun
like my stone
frightened duck
skips across the water
raindrops
on the ground
I remember flying
spring mountains and
a Van Gough lake
I could not copy
depth of spirit
like a moth –
exists
flattening the grass
with laughter
rolling boys in a box
sliding beneath the surface
the Taniwha’s scales
catch the sun
shaking the trees
hissing with glee
wind dragons rush on
watching the cat
watch the finches
watch a bread roll
no frog in the pond
but at night
in my ears
their mother away
the children
hunt a different victim
All poetry (c) Steven Clarkson 2012-2013